dave lackey
Veteran
Damn!
I knew this day was coming and I would rather have my teeth pulled out one by one with a pair of vise grips!
My old Dell computer just crashed my email (Mozilla Thunderbird) and the C drive is constantly on the edge of being full until I can transfer files to the D drive. Windows XP is now banned for the future... Thank you oh mighty microsoft .. Up yours! I just replaced the power supply unit.
So now the problem is to begin researching a replacement to do a professional level of photography. I am even entertaining a Mac system. Yeah, I will be screwed either way but that is reality so I will deal with it.
All I want to do is take photographs and put together documentaries. I hate computers now after 40years and 50+ systems!!! CADD, yes, blame my arm surgery and continuing nerve damage pain on both arms to CADD! So, not wanting to be a geek on computers or software, I have no idea what is a good system with enough horsepower and storage to do what I do now with my old Dell, XP, LR3 and CS2.
Damned software replacement will be much very expensive by itself!
Did I say I hated computers? Let me reiterate. I hate computers!
Now to deal with it. #%€£%#!!!
Any help from you knowledgable folks will be greatly appreciated!
I knew this day was coming and I would rather have my teeth pulled out one by one with a pair of vise grips!
My old Dell computer just crashed my email (Mozilla Thunderbird) and the C drive is constantly on the edge of being full until I can transfer files to the D drive. Windows XP is now banned for the future... Thank you oh mighty microsoft .. Up yours! I just replaced the power supply unit.
So now the problem is to begin researching a replacement to do a professional level of photography. I am even entertaining a Mac system. Yeah, I will be screwed either way but that is reality so I will deal with it.
All I want to do is take photographs and put together documentaries. I hate computers now after 40years and 50+ systems!!! CADD, yes, blame my arm surgery and continuing nerve damage pain on both arms to CADD! So, not wanting to be a geek on computers or software, I have no idea what is a good system with enough horsepower and storage to do what I do now with my old Dell, XP, LR3 and CS2.
Damned software replacement will be much very expensive by itself!
Did I say I hated computers? Let me reiterate. I hate computers!
Now to deal with it. #%€£%#!!!
Any help from you knowledgable folks will be greatly appreciated!
KevinS
Established
I share your feelings toward computers. After they became necessary for photography I got a refurbished iMac from Apple. The 4GB ram and 500GB HD are adequate for me and the computer has been trouble free for over three years. Love (well, like) the Magic Mouse, wireless keyboard and small footprint.
lynnb
Veteran
Dave, if you already have a suitable monitor and USB mouse and keyboard, a Mac Mini is an affordable option. The Mac Mini is essentially a notebook computer in a different form factor, sans peripherals. I've found mine to be 100% rock solid reliable.
No problems running Lightroom and CS.
No problems running Lightroom and CS.
photomoof
Fischli & Weiss Sculpture
iMac basic:
1.6GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor
Turbo Boost up to 2.7GHz
8GB of onboard memory, configurable up to 16GB
1TB hard drive1
Intel HD Graphics 6000
1920-by-1080 sRGB display
$1,099.00
If you qualify only $52,76 a month. Get Lightroom and Photoshop as part of the Creative Cloud Photography plan for only $9.99/mo.
You could spend more, or less, but this option is not bad. I would probably spend the money and go with 16GB of memory.
The Mac will read your old drives, and will run cheap substitutes for Office.
1.6GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor
Turbo Boost up to 2.7GHz
8GB of onboard memory, configurable up to 16GB
1TB hard drive1
Intel HD Graphics 6000
1920-by-1080 sRGB display
$1,099.00
If you qualify only $52,76 a month. Get Lightroom and Photoshop as part of the Creative Cloud Photography plan for only $9.99/mo.
You could spend more, or less, but this option is not bad. I would probably spend the money and go with 16GB of memory.
The Mac will read your old drives, and will run cheap substitutes for Office.
dave lackey
Veteran
Thanks, Fred.
16gb... That is like Ram? I hope so as the permanent hard drives need to be huge! Oh, just noticed that is storage. What to do about permanent storage?
Corran
Well-known
Sounds like you got more than enough usage out of your current box.
My suggestion is to find a smart local kid who'll build you a system. I did this for several folks over the years when I was in college, and charged them a nominal fee - usually older musicians who wanted a high-end recording PC, as that was my specialty. A smokin' computer setup can be had for around $600-800 depending on specs. Haven't priced anything out lately but that's usually about what it'll cost, if you keep it relatively simple and focus on the basics. Windows 7 64-bit is fantastic.
If you want to spend more money for the same thing or worse, feel free to buy into the Mac ecosystem.
My suggestion is to find a smart local kid who'll build you a system. I did this for several folks over the years when I was in college, and charged them a nominal fee - usually older musicians who wanted a high-end recording PC, as that was my specialty. A smokin' computer setup can be had for around $600-800 depending on specs. Haven't priced anything out lately but that's usually about what it'll cost, if you keep it relatively simple and focus on the basics. Windows 7 64-bit is fantastic.
If you want to spend more money for the same thing or worse, feel free to buy into the Mac ecosystem.
squirrel$$$bandit
Veteran
If you're considering a Mac, I'd recommend a retina-display iMac with SSD or fusion drive. Editing photos with an SSD and high-resolution display is wonderful, and the new models have a greatly improved color response. There is now a 21" retina iMac; it starts at $1500 but don't buy the base spinning disc, get the fusion or SSD!
Peter de Waal
Established
Sorry to hear about the OOS problems. I stopped IT work a while back as I was on the edge of similar bodily problems after working on and off in IT since the '80's.
A used MacMini or iMac are good options for casual use. Max out the RAM, then make sure you have good back-up support i.e external drives, as the cooling is a bit naff on both these models and I have seen them die of heat stroke in solid commercial use.
If you are certain you will be doing commercial volumes of image processing something like a used 2008 MacPro would be better due to it's superior cooling design. Such a machine is in the $600-1500 price range these days. Add more RAM (say +6GB of cheap 2GB matched sticks) and replace the old hard drives with some new SSD's.
Mac OSX 10.4.11 upwards (e.g. 10.6-10.11) will have no problems reading your old Windows NTFS volumes once you plug these drives into your new (old) Mac and transferring your files, and as you already have your email on Thunderbird you just need to download a Mac Thunderbird client to import your messages.
NeoOffice is a cheap MS Office replacement.
I go even cheaper: a Mirror-Drive Door G4 Mac for $1.00, maxed out the RAM (2GB), 2x SSD hard disks on a SATA card, replace the fans with new variable speed quiet types. I use OSX 10.4.11 and the TenFoxFour web browser - a port of Firefox 38. I used to use Photoshop CS3 but have reverted to Photoshop 7 as I don't really do much digital. I have another Mac set up to boot OS9 for my SCSI scanners.
If you only want to run CS3 there's no need to spend big $ on a computer.
A used MacMini or iMac are good options for casual use. Max out the RAM, then make sure you have good back-up support i.e external drives, as the cooling is a bit naff on both these models and I have seen them die of heat stroke in solid commercial use.
If you are certain you will be doing commercial volumes of image processing something like a used 2008 MacPro would be better due to it's superior cooling design. Such a machine is in the $600-1500 price range these days. Add more RAM (say +6GB of cheap 2GB matched sticks) and replace the old hard drives with some new SSD's.
Mac OSX 10.4.11 upwards (e.g. 10.6-10.11) will have no problems reading your old Windows NTFS volumes once you plug these drives into your new (old) Mac and transferring your files, and as you already have your email on Thunderbird you just need to download a Mac Thunderbird client to import your messages.
NeoOffice is a cheap MS Office replacement.
I go even cheaper: a Mirror-Drive Door G4 Mac for $1.00, maxed out the RAM (2GB), 2x SSD hard disks on a SATA card, replace the fans with new variable speed quiet types. I use OSX 10.4.11 and the TenFoxFour web browser - a port of Firefox 38. I used to use Photoshop CS3 but have reverted to Photoshop 7 as I don't really do much digital. I have another Mac set up to boot OS9 for my SCSI scanners.
If you only want to run CS3 there's no need to spend big $ on a computer.
photomoof
Fischli & Weiss Sculpture
That is ram, the hard drive is really as big as one should have, more should be backed up on external drives, or the cloud.
btgc
Veteran
It so much depends on what one is doing....I have no huge RAW files so $100 board with a dual-core Celeron, boosted by small SSD for OS and topped with silent 5400rpm data volume, is plentiful for my scanning, occasional Sigma SPP conversions and GIMP driven .jpg editing.
I realize this is as low as it gets (no, I could go with a tablet, if not scanning) but it works for me. I don't need power I'll not use or maybe use in distant future (for that there will be another computer, these things depreciate fast). Also like fact it's content with 60W, display including (it's running in old case with old PSU, so I could sqeeze out another watts by using Pico PSU or like that, but not sure how much I would save on that). Ancient PC I used draw 180W idle, plus display.
I realize this is as low as it gets (no, I could go with a tablet, if not scanning) but it works for me. I don't need power I'll not use or maybe use in distant future (for that there will be another computer, these things depreciate fast). Also like fact it's content with 60W, display including (it's running in old case with old PSU, so I could sqeeze out another watts by using Pico PSU or like that, but not sure how much I would save on that). Ancient PC I used draw 180W idle, plus display.
oftheherd
Veteran
I know nothing about Macs, but I know from reading posts like above that a lot of people swear by them. So I wouldn't put them down.
How much do you plan on spending for a Windows solution, if you go that way? If you can find a reliable person, Corran's advice is good, and there are some enhancements you could purchase, such as drive docks.
How much do you plan on spending for a Windows solution, if you go that way? If you can find a reliable person, Corran's advice is good, and there are some enhancements you could purchase, such as drive docks.
back alley
IMAGES
i love my mac mini!
i use it with a big screen monitor and apple keyboard...and 2 external drives for backup.
dave lackey
Veteran
Thanks guys!!! Lots to think about and it seems that $1500 is about where the hardware will wind up in cost. LR and PS are about all I need outside of email and safari.
raid
Dad Photographer
Good luck, Dave. It will work out in the end. Hang in there.
Addy101
Well-known
Apples are overpriced, just stick with Windows.
Just get a recent intel i5 processor (5000 or 6000 series), 16Gb internal (8Gb could be enough if money is tight) and a SSD harddrive - really, that SSD is the best investment for photography.. Get Win10. I put my money were my mouth is, this is my system.
If yyou don't use the file management system of LR3, take a look at RawTherapee.
Paint Shop Pro is cheaper then PS, but just as powerful and it seems the latest version is fast enough.
Finally, Tom Northrup recently had a video on computers: Which computer for Photo & Video Editing?
Just get a recent intel i5 processor (5000 or 6000 series), 16Gb internal (8Gb could be enough if money is tight) and a SSD harddrive - really, that SSD is the best investment for photography.. Get Win10. I put my money were my mouth is, this is my system.
If yyou don't use the file management system of LR3, take a look at RawTherapee.
Paint Shop Pro is cheaper then PS, but just as powerful and it seems the latest version is fast enough.
Finally, Tom Northrup recently had a video on computers: Which computer for Photo & Video Editing?
ColSebastianMoran
( IRL Richard Karash )
I highly recommend Mac. Refurb Mac from Apple, buy a used one.
More recent the better. For photography, you'll want 8GB of ram, and 16 would be even better. The all-in-one iMacs are great. If you already have a good monitor, get a MacMini (recent with enough memory).
More recent the better. For photography, you'll want 8GB of ram, and 16 would be even better. The all-in-one iMacs are great. If you already have a good monitor, get a MacMini (recent with enough memory).
gb hill
Veteran
Don't forget Dave if your going to process your own B&W film you will need a film scanner. You can probably find a good Windows desktop pretty cheap since like me, money is a factor. I've decided to scale back, sell off some stuff & build up a nice SLR kit to shoot my documentary work.
John Free shoots & has used Nikon F's & now a Nikon F3 for 40 years. I have realized one doesn't need an expensive Leica or several thousand dollars worth of gear to make good photographs.
John Free shoots & has used Nikon F's & now a Nikon F3 for 40 years. I have realized one doesn't need an expensive Leica or several thousand dollars worth of gear to make good photographs.
Vics
Veteran
Another vote for a windows 10 system. Store pics on a $100 portable 1 terabyte hard drive. Install your present software if you like it. Be sure the vertical and horizontal resolution of the monitor is sufficient to use the advanced features of your software.
f16sunshine
Moderator
A good suggestion. Many windows users I know are actually really excited to finally have the new os. Personally I'm in apple ecosystem. Windows 10 might interest me if I was starting again... Lot's of inexpensive hardware choices. Apple is great but admittedly it cost more. Do you get more? I would say yes but it's debatable. As to offline/inline storage. Actually I was at Costco with my mom over the weekend. Seagate now has a 5terra usb3 drive for $140. 3terra is $89 ... Also usb3. I've used these seagate drives for years now. It's good gear.
Fraser
Well-known
Just worked out my imac is from mid 2010 cost £900, fast bootup works like it was when new. When I was still using windows I would reformat my drives every 6 months just to get the computer running at a reasonable speed. I run lightroom, photoshop cc and photomechanic all run very smooth and fast.
Try running a 6 year old windows machine, maybe macs are more expensive when new but in my opinion much better value for money.
Oh and viruses are no big deal on a mac.